FRANKFORT, May 18, 1850.
MY DEAR SIR,—Your letter of the 9th inst. was duly received, and, by the
telegraph, we already know that all you taught me to expect has come to pass.
The Republic has changed hands, and Mr. Hall has succeeded the former editors.
It is to be greatly regretted that there should be any motive or cause for such
a movement. Not that Mr. Hall is not very competent and worthy, but the regret
is that there should have been any disagreement between the retiring editors
and the administration. I had hoped that Burnley's mediation might have
reconciled all differences, and that our friend Bullitt's known attachment to
the President would have made him forego all his objections to the cabinet. The
extent of his objections I do not know, nor do I mean to blame him, for I am
very certain that he has acted from honest convictions and motives. But I must
say, at the same time, that for myself I am not sensible of any objections that
require such an opposition to the cabinet. Indeed, I doubt very much whether
General Taylor could select another cabinet of more ability, or character, or
personal worth. But I do not mean to make comments on the subject. The storm
that has just passed by will be followed, I hope, by that calm that usually compensates
for its ravages; and I trust that we shall yet see the administration emerging
successfully from the difficulties that now surround it.
I shall be delighted to see you at home, but this is overcome by the
absolute sadness I feel at your quitting old Zack at such a time, when,
perhaps, he most requires the comfort and assistance of your society and
counsel. I received Robert's letter yesterday. You may tell him so, and his
children and all are well. I have not another word to say about his affairs and
solicitations at Washington. Under a first impulse I said and wrote much more
than I ought. Hereafter he can only have my good wishes, and must depend on
himself. I must not be mixed up with any office-seeking for my own family.
I have written to our friend Mr. Richard Hawes, apprising him of your
views and wishes, and inquiring whether he would be willing, in the event of
your resignation, to accept your present office. I have not yet received his
answer, but I anticipate, from many conversations with him, that he will not
accept it. If he will, he is the very man, and the man of my choice. Without
much acquaintance with Mr. Alexander McKee, I had formed a kind opinion of him,
and supposed, from information, that he was very much a man of business. In a conversation
last winter, I mentioned that it was not expected by your friends that you
would continue long in office, and suggested to him the vacancy as one that
would very well suit him. But little more was then said on the subject, and
nothing since has passed between us about it. I am told that he went through
the place a few days ago, on his way to the East, but he did not call on me,
and I know not his object. I have heard that his thoughts have been turned of
late towards California, and an office at Washington may not now be desirable
to him; and in the present uncertainty I have no more to say about it. He is
not apprised of what I lately wrote to you in his behalf.
I wish that before you leave Washington you would especially take it upon
yourself to have something clever done for our friend, Mr. George W. Barbour, a
senator in our General Assembly from the Princeton district. You recollect him,
I hope. He is a fine-looking, high-spirited, and noble-hearted fellow, a lawyer
by profession, and of fair capacity. He is poor, and too modest and proud to
seek for office, though he wants it. He is an ardent and thorough Taylor-man.
Now, what can be done for such a man? I have undertaken to be his intercessor,
and have written in his behalf time and again to Clayton, and perhaps to
others, but, so far, have not got even any answer relating to him. A
chargé-ship to anywhere in South America would be very acceptable to him; so
would a judgeship in any of our territorial governments, or the office of
secretary in those governments. Now, this is a wide range; there are many
offices in it, and mighty few such clever fellows anywhere as Barbour. The
place that that fellow Meeker was slipped into, and ought to be slipped out of,
would suit poor Barbour exactly, and he is worthy of it. I have told Barbour
that he must be patient, and that I was certain something would, sooner or
later, be done for him. It begins to be the "later," and nothing is
yet done. The last alternative is to try and get you to make up this business
and do something in it.
P.S.—I can do nothing more with Clayton in Barbour's case but quarrel
with him, and that I don't want to do,—first, because he is a stout fellow and
might whip me; secondly, I like the fellow.
J. J. C.
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